Means for forming the top layer of packed fruit



Jan. 3l, 1933. E BERNFUS 1,895,877

MEANS FOR FoRMING THE TOP LAYER oF PACKED FRUIT Filed May l. 1950 HTTORNYXS Patented `lan. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT ola-Fica". i

ERICH BERNFUS, or VIENNA, AUSTRIA MEANS Fon EOEMING TEE TonLAXEB; F PACKED FRUIT Application med May 1, 1930, serial Nanaasi, aaainaustria'. may '4, 1929..

An application has been filed in Austria, May 4., 1929. Y This invention relates to a method of and means for forming and orderly arranging the top layer of packed fruits, particularly dried fruits. i

Heretofore when packing fruits, particularly dried fruits (prunes and the like) in boxes, the plums of the top laye-r, which have been attened by hand, are placed in proper order onto the inner face of the lid of the box which is open at its bottom side and subsequently the box is filled and the floor thereof is nailed thereto.

According to the present invention the attening and orderly arrangement of the prunes and the like by hand are dispensed with.

The essential feature of the method according to the present invention consists in orderly arranging the fruits of the top layer in depressions of a plate, placing over plate the box still open at its bottom side until the inner face of its lid rests against the layer of fruits, pressing the lid against the layer of fruits, turning the box, lifting the plate and thereby depositing the fruits on the inner side of the lid. Then the box is filled with fruits, theV floor is nailed thereto and finally the box is turned in the right position. p

One mode of carrying out the present invention is illustrated by way ofy example on the accompanying sheet of drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 show in plan view and side view respectively the plate of the device provided with excavations for the location of the top layer of fruits.

Figs. 3 and 4 show in plan View and side view respectively the counter plate co-operatlo ing with the plate provided with excavations.

Figs. 5 and 6 are similar-views of the ejection plate and of the handle.

Fig. 7 is a view of the assembled device ready for use. v

In the drawing, 1 designates the plate provided with excavations or depressions 2 for the reception of the top layer of fruits-` Accorded to each excavation or depression is a i bore 3, which terminates in a bore 4 of larger D diameter at the backside of the plate (Fig. 2).

'7' ofthe same diameter as the bo-res 3'at the y Anel' I The co'unterplate ofthe same sizeas the plate 1 ifs provided with bores 6 of the same diameter asthe-bores 4. and withsmallerbores bottom side of said bores 6. Positioning pins 8 are arrangedin. the counter plate 5 which, inthe assembled' condition ofthe device, en,- gage holes 9. provided in the plate 1. rllhe ejectors preferably consist of metal and their collar'l 10 is adapted` tosli-de in theenlarged @o boresfl and 6 ofthe plates 1 and 5 respec, tively, while lthey-stems a and 10b ofjeacli collar 1,0` operate in the small bores, 3 and7 respectively'of said plates. l

As shown in. Fig,; 7,thepl`ates 1 and 5are y rigidly connected' with one another-by means of counter-sunk screws, 11 in` such. a manner, that the enlarged. bores-of the twoplates face one another andthereby form cylindric chamf .g bersin which operate the collars of the ejectors.

A bracket l2 lused as handle is screwed at 13 to the bottom face of the plate 5. The plate 14, for operating the ejectors 10, 10,A 10b, is provided with four holes 15 forv the passage of distancing members 16, which in convenient manner, for instance by means of wood-screws 17, are fixed to the plate 5 and at the bottom end are provided with headsl or stops 18 against which rests the ejection-4 plate 14: in the position shown in Fig.y 7. The ejection-plate also is provided with two slits 19, 20, through which pass the arms of the bracket 12. Y

The device operates in the following man- If the assembled device is in the position shown in Fig. 7, plums are put onto the top side of the device and deposited in the de#` pressions y2 by shaking the device. TherebyV 90 the collars 10 of the ejectors pass into the bores 6 of the counter plate 5, so that the stems 10a do not extend into the depressions 2 of the plate 1l V(Fig. 7). Now the box,Lv which is still open at its bottom side, is placed over the device until the inner face ofthe lid of the box rests on the plums orderly positioned in the depressions of the plate 1. y

By means of any convenient press, the` lid.

of the box is pressed against the layer of" 00 take up the position of the first and fifth ejector illustrated in dash-'dotted lines in Figi 7, after they have ejected from the device the y Whole layer of plums'and deposited the same plums,v so VthatV known smooth surface is formed. Subsequently the box is removed from the press and turned. Now if, b means of the handle l2, the device l, 5 is li d out of the tbox, all ejeotors Will be pushed in- Ward simultaneously in the direction of the arrows (Fig. 47) in view of the Weight of the ejection-*plate 14 resting on the same, yuntil the ejection-plate rests against the underside of the plate 5 taking up the position shown in Fig. 7 in dash-dotted lines,';vvhile `all ejectors on the inner face of the lid of the box. Then uleboxmhich is Suu Open at its bottom Side,

is filled --vvith fruits, the floor is nailed thereto and "finally the boX :fsturned inthe right po?V sition@V 1- I claim- Device for formingithe top layer ofjdried. i fruits'in'hoXe's, comprising 1n combinatlona plate, depressions on the upper Aside'rof the plate for receiving the dried fruitseach de pression communicating with a Corresponding bore, passing through the plate, ejeoting stems sliding axially in the said b'0res',yen largements in the bores7 collars on the stems guided in the enlargementsfheaded' distancing members onv the,underside ofthe plateand an ejectingboar'd sliding on said mem- Vbers for pushing the stems in the *depressions i `and ejecting thereby the fruits. l 1 In testimony Whereofl aix' my signature. ERICH BERNFUS.'y 

